Rollerway cabinet



26, 1968 T. w. LUNDBERG RQLLBRWAY CABINET Filed March 7, 1967 IN V EN TOR.

76 erae M [012096 19 3,413,051 RQLLERWAY CABINET Theron W. Lnndherg, 5 Easy St., Salem, N.H. 03079 Filed Mar. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 625,905 1 (Ilaim. (Cl. 312-223) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A roller supported cabinet mounted on trackways in the cellar staircase of a dwelling and movable to a position at the top of the stairs in the event the stairs are not in use, and retractable from such position to permit use of the stairs. This novel concept thus provides added cabinet or closet facilities not otherwise built into the dwelling.

The present invention, While relating to cabinets and the like in general, has more particular reference to a so-called rollerway cabinet electrically operated and movable at will into a position for access thereto and away from such position when the space is required for other purposes. In other words, a cabinet or other storage medium is provided, so to speak, from space otherwise wasted.

For illustration, the cabinet is intended for ranch style homes with a stairway leading to the cellar but no stairway to the attic. The cabinet of this invention, mounted on rollers will normally occupy the space above and around the stairs and not otherwise used. No ladder will be required. Pushing a button will bring the cabinet into position for access thereto at the top of the stairs, and pushing another button will cause its return to normal position when one wishes to use the stairway. In eifect, an extra cabinet and/or closet is added to the living quarters of the house.

It is, therefore, the main objective of my invention to provide a cabinet as and for the purpose hereinabove set forth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the invention and,

FIGURE 2 is a view of the invention in front elevation.

The broken line 1, of FIGURE 2, represents the floor United States Patent 0 level at the top of a pair of cellar stairs, while the broken lines 2 are symbolic of the framework of the staircase. Attached to the framework 2, in any suitable manner not shown, and extending horizontally into the staircase is an upper pair of channel trackways 3 and at the floor level 1 are like trackways 4. Supported between the two pairs of trackways is a cabinet 5 which, in this instance is shown as a rectangular structure provided with a plurality of shelves 6.

On each top corner of the cabinet 5 is a fixed bearing 7 and like but inverted bearings 7 are similarly located on the bottom of the cabinet. Journaled in each of the said bearings 7 is a stub shaft 8 which carries a roller 9, these rollers 9 traveling in their respective trackways and providing a rolling support for the cabinet.

Mounted on top of the cabinet 5 is a driving means which, in this instance is a reversible electric motor 10 under control from a manually operable switch 11. The motor shaft 12 is extended axially in both directions from the motor and fixed to each end of the shaft is a driving roller 13 operating in and frictionally contacting the bottom of its respective trackway 3 to move the cabinet 5 forward or back as desired, limiting stops, not shown, being provided for each such movement.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, novelty and usefulness of the invention has been made sufiiciently clear as to call for no further explanation.

What I claim is:

1. In a rollerway cabinet, the combination of a pair of horizontally disposed trackways mounted upon a frame-work of a staircase, a roller mounted to travel in each of said trackways, a cabinet supported by said rollers for reciprocal movement along said trackways, a reversible motor attached to the top of said cabinet, a motor shaft key to said rollers,manually operable means for controlling the travel of said cabinet toward and from the top landing of said staircase, said motor comprising an electrical motor, a second pair of trackways, bearings secured to the top and bottom of said cabinet, stub shafts journaled in said bearings, rollers on said stub shafts in rolling contact with said trackways as additional supporting means for said cabinet, and said cabinet including a plurality of horizontally slidable drawers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,240 2/1950 Aiken 312-246 X 3,250,583 5/1966 Phillips 312-250 X 3,316,043 4/1967 Taskey 312246 X 3,345,107 10/1967 Homier et al 297-410 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

